skayes

I'm rather interested myself. I've been taking classes toward an RN degree for so long now and I move and have to change schools and blah blah. Sick of it. Was hoping to just find something I could finish up online and take a clinical weekend like the college network does. I came across an LPN to BSN bridge (may have been Indiana university, not sure) but when I looked at the states that it was accepted in, none of the states I want it for were accepted except for Pennsylvania (my home state). So I guess it's not really worth it if I can't use the degree to become licensed. I'll take anything online at this point..I just don't like the looks of the college network.

Hey Michelle! I just came back to this feed..completely forgot that I wrote it... Are you still working for LSGS at Nellis??

I posted this one a long time ago. I was so unsure! Anyway, I took the job. Work on labor and delivery! How's it in ICU?

It's a company based in Florida and have contacts me about a job on Nellis AFB. They say they hold exclusive contract with military staffing. Anyone hear of this company or been employed by them? Just trying to do some research and not turning much up. Thanks!

Sorry this took a bit to reply to. Been busy. Wilmington is beautiful and so close to the shore yep. They don't take PNs in the hospital of course so a nursing home/rehab facility will be your beat shot. Difficult getting a job prior to relocating so keep that in mind. the place I worked at found my resume on career builder. Housing is fairly affordable as it's a college town. If you're really serious I can give you my old roommates email and you could talk with him about a living arrangement. I have since moved. I used to love in Nevada and missed all my friends so I moved back there. You can message me on Facebook if you'd like faster replies and more email. I don't mind helping.

Well there are two hospitals in Wilmington, and they're both under the same company. New Hanover Regional Medical Center. I don't know a thing about RN's getting in there or anything. Since LPN's are treated like the red headed step children of nursing, we get no opportunity to work in Hospitals. I started orienting at one rehab facility and hated it. Moved onto another and it's been an interesting road. lol I actually was able to work in my hometown hospital for two years prior to moving to Wilmington. So the switch to LTC was fascinating. I've actually grown to enjoy the LTC part of things. The rehab side of my facility leaves me clocking out and questioning if I was actually a nurse during that shift of just a pill popper in an assisted living situation. But overall the experience has been enlightening and I have learned a thing or two about wounds and stuff like that. I've decided that Wilmington isn't my final stop in the road to setting roots down somewhere. It's a quite little city and I love the beaches and such but I want a bit bigger, busy city so I'm off to Las Vegas (used to live there) to try my hand at some nursing (and School for my RN) there... GOOD LUCK!!! I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

Well thanks for the words of encouragement hsienko! LOL Kidding, anyway, no way am I just quitting my day job to wing it and come on a job hunt. I'm actually in a place on my schedule now that I have a few days to come visit, so I'm heading down to visit next week and check out the area, living, things to do, and all that good stuff. As with NC (apparently) LPN's aren't exactly top of the market anywhere anymore. Had I known this when I went through my PN program, I never would have even bothered and gone straight into an RN program. It's ok though because doing the LPN thing first has given me a stepping stone and has opened my eyes to what I can see myself doing in the future. So while I definitely feel like the evil step-child of nursing ... I do my part to take great care of my patients, regardless of the crappy way LPN's seem to be treated. The hospital I work at couldn't survive without LPN's, so it's crazy to think they aren't well needed everywhere but to each his own. I'm also going to meet with CFCC about their ADN program as I'm currently enrolled in classes here that are working toward my RN. I'm fine with LTC in the intrim while taknig classes. It will give me more experience in a different aspect of nursing. And besides that, I have plenty of other job experience unrelated to nursing so I can always fall back on those too if it comes down to it. Just trying to look at every experience in the positive light and would like to see some more of the country while I'm still "young" and "Unattached" and can do it! And who knows, maybe once I'm down for a visit, I won't even like it there and I'll have to create a "Plan B" :)

Well I have a strange and busy schedule, it's nearly impossible to get a whole phone conversation in. How about we email... I can do that! [email protected]

Rob, yes I did get your IM, it won't let me reply to you for some reason... do you used GTalk or any other chat client?

Yeah it's the same way across the board as far as hospitals not wanting LPNs anymore. It's lame. The hospital I work at now coudln't survive without us! So I find it hard to believe they don't hire them anymore! Anyway, I'll just have to look for something in LTC or a Doc's office for now I suppose. Or I guess I can always go to the old waiting tables deal! :) Hopefully I'll see something I like about Wilmington! I'm ready for a change. I'm going to tour Cape Fear Community College and see if I can take some classes towards the Associates Degree for Nursing and get moving on that pronto! I guess we'll see how it goes.

Wilmington. I'm going down next month to check it out and UNC to work on my RN and hopefully I love it, cause I'm ready to move! What kind of info do ya have for me? :)

I'm an LPN with almost 2 years of experience on an Obstetrics unit and float to Med Surg, Intensive Care and Behavioral Health. It's time to move on and experience other hospitals and locations. I've been considering Wilmington North Carolina since I graduated in 2009 but felt that staying home and gaining some experience first was a more logical step. I am starting gen ed classes to start working toward my RN so I have a lot of factors to work with in considering relocation. 1. I've never been any further south than Ocean City, MD (I'm from Pennsylvania). I'd like to experience a new part of the country. I've also had many many friends tell me that Wilmington is beautiful as is the rest of the state (they are all on board with support of my possible move) and that I will love it. 2. I spent 3 years living in Las Vegas. Loved every minute of it but that was desert. I'd like to go somewhere a little closer to the coast this time. I was cooped up much of the summer because it was too hot to go outside unless you were swimming in the pools. I love to walk and hike. I've started getting into running and am slowly trying to turn myself into a health freak. I see from some of the research I've been doing that Wilmington has plenty of outdoor activity beyond the obvious beach day. At this point, I know nothing about the health care system there...which is why I'm posting this thread. Can an LPN afford to live without a roommate based on wages in the state? I'm 29 years old and not really liking the idea of roommates but I'm definitely not closed to it if that's the better way to go financially. Are LPNs used in the hospital setting as clinical nurses or am I doomed to a doctor's office or nursing home? Are there any schools that offer bridge programs for LPNs to get their RN? I fully intend to get a bachelor's of nursing but at this point, I'd like to take the associates route so I can start working as an RN and then do my classes towards a BSN later. I am aware that many hospitals now are only accepting RN's who have a bachelor's degree..is this the case in Wilmington or North Carolina in general? I know I've mentioned Wilmington a lot, and from what I've seen it seems like a great place to go, but I'm by all means open to other suggestions. I thank you in advance for taking the time to read this and respond! I appreciate it greatly!

Yup, exactly. I'm lucky I DO have a job here in Pennsylvania. My problem is I want to move back out west to Nevada, and that's where I'm getting held up... I'm thankful I have a job for sure, but it's frustrating trying to branch out and get nothing.

ya I feel like I've applied for everything I meet qualifications for that are posted on indeed.com. It's so frustrating! You spend all this time in school and stuff hearing that nurses are in so high demand, yet... here you are... a nurse and... no job!

Yuck! I understand your frustration! You hear all the time "nurses are in high demand" but once you become a nurse you feel like saying "beggars can't be choosers!" I got hired right away at the hospital that I did my school clinical rounds at. That being said, it's a small, rural hospital that thrives on their LPNs...My hospital couldn't function without the LPNs. But at the same time, I feel like I'm the redheaded stepchild of nursing! I am employed in the Obstetrics department taking care of postpartum patients..I love it. However, because we're a small hospital and our OB census isn't always flourishing, they float me to all the other departments in the hospital. Some nights I'll start out on the Behavioral Health unit, then they'll pull me to Med Surg or I start in ICU and have to go back to OB (which is never a complaint when I go back to my home base, lol). It's very frustrating knowing that I just graduated and I'm ready and willing to learn but in my small hospital, there's not really much room to go up. I am dying to relocate to Las Vegas. Not for the drinking or gambling or all that, but I lived there when I was a bit younger (and i did move there to drink and gamble) and I made some really great friends, and experienced some awesome nurses. Those experiences with those nurses finalized my decision to go to nursing school myself. They inspired me. I want nothing more than to move back out there to be with the amazing friends I've been missing for 2 years... and now that I've got my nursing license...it's like all signs say STOP! A year ago when I graduated, most positions I was applying for required 1 year of experience at least... now that I'm applying with nearly a year under my belt, they all require 2 years and some are now asking for at least 5 years... FIVE YEARS!! By then I can have my RN! I have OB experience (which means nothing as far as an LPN is concerned anywhere urban), and I've been a float nurse for the past 10 months cause I float all the time, yet that seems to not matter either. It's extremely frustrating to spend a year being told that nurses are in such high demand and everyone is gonna want you...to graduating and seeing the reality that they don't want you cause you're new. So now that I'm done rambling...I would try searching for "teaching" hospitals.. it seems like those ones are the ones that are more willing to take on new grads...like the one I work at that I did my clinical work at. They understand you're new and need experience. I'm finding that many city hospitals have stopped taking LPN's all together... so next option is a doctor's office or SNF or home health... but home health wants you to have a year of experience at least. As far as a resume goes, I've googled resume templates before and gone by those layouts. My school had an instructor that helped us put together our post nursing school resume/cover letter so I'll pass along the suggestions that were given to me: 1. Start with your name and title obviously, then a personal objective like "to find a LPN position that utilizes my skills and knowledge acquired in school in a professional clinical setting that that allows for professional experience and personal growth" 2. below the statement list your current license. I'm licensed in both Pennsylvania and Nevada, so I have those right at the top with the number and when it expires. Then list credits.. and anything, even if it was from a past job..like Employee of the Month, and CPR and Neonatal resuscitation certified. List the basic run down of clinical experience... if you inserted Foley Catheters or started IV's or initiated telemetry. List any awards you received. 3. List your past/present jobs and descriptions 4. End with education That's all I can throw at ya I guess. I get a lot of compliments on how my resume is laid out, so I think just switching that stuff around for me (all my credits and license information was always last on my list, I used to start it out with the statement then go right into jobs) made my "Star" points more obvious...I find they don't so much read all of your past jobs, just see what you've done...so if you put all the great things you've accomplished right at the start, that's what gets noticed first. Hopefully this wasn't too much for you...I am a rambler, especially at night when I'm winding down from work! Go figure! Good luck!!! :)